Srijeda, 16 Ša'ban, 1436

The Sun is in 12 Gemini: A famous pianist giving a concert performance (Sabian symbol for 13 Gemini)

The Moon is in its 21st mansion, which extends from 17 Sagittarius 8 to 0 Capricorn. This is the seventh mansion within the third seven-fold cycle of the 28 mansions.

In Ibn 'Arabi's listing, the 21st mansion signifies The Earth, whose letter is ص and whose Divine Name is The Death-Giver, الْمُمِيتُ.

In the traditional Arabic system, the 21st mansion is known as Al-Baldah, The City. Its keywords are defeat, destructive enmity, internal conflict, people or forces at odds, division. Its image is that of a man having two faces, with one facing forward and one facing behind. The angel of this mansion is Kyriel.

Overnight, the Moon will transit my natal Moon.

I did the recommended zikr after Isha (Jacija) prayer. I fasted during the day. Did some work at home. Went to Rosen. Went to see the financial planner yet again. We are on track for retirement.

While I was waiting for my husband to arrive at the appointment at the office tower, I got into a brief conversation with the (female) security guard and the pizza delivery man in the lobby. I overheard the delivery man and the security guard exchange salaams, and somehow the topic of Ramadan came up in their conversation. They were trying to figure out when will begin. The man thought it began on the 26th, and the woman wasn't sure. Then I said that it would begin on the 18th. The man said he would need to fast some before then, as he had some days left over from last year that he hadn't made up yet. After he left, I spoke with the security guard for a bit. She said that she is originally from Africa, and that she is not allowed to wear hijab at work. She then showed me a picture of herself in hijab on her phone. She said that the she doesn't fast because she has a medical condition that requires her to take medication, but she sends money to fund iftar meals for people in Africa. I told her that I have a couple of Sufi friends in Massachusetts, but that I hadn't settled into going to any particular mosque locally.